TOPIC: New Tablet for HIP

Today I purchased the new Samsung Win 8 Tablet specifically for use with HIP. I'll keep you posted on how well this works. The attached pic show my trusty X41t Thinkpad and the Samsung. There's a good couple hours of updates.

ooooooooooo. Let us know how well it works!

Overview Samsung; Ativ 500t Tablet

So...here's the deal on this Tablet. It's the Samsung 11.6" Tablet running full Windows 8. It's a Dual Core Clovertrail Atom; Only 1.6 lbs; and Samsungs version of an IPS display (great for off axis viewing). This does have a glossy display.

Performance: This is  64GB, 1/2 is already used, However, if the goal is using HIP...it's more than enough hard drive space. This unit has a Wacom digitizer pen which works great for navigating HIP. The display is both capacitive and Wacom enabled. If you do hit the screen with your palm before the pen is close to the display, you can accidentally highlight a comment you don't wish to select(you can turn off the capacitive touch). You can also take handwritten notes in Windows Journal which I do in almost every inspection. This unit is sold at Best Buy, Staples, and Amazon.  If you need a case...currently you will only find one at your local ATT store.

Windows 8: I wont get into the +/- 's of Windows 8. You can make your own opinions on that. Just know at least this isn't that Window 8 RT Surface shit

The Good: A pretty slick unit. If  choosing between this and a Slate 2, Ctl2go, or the Samsung....this unit is light, has the largest screen..and with a Dual Core Atom wont lag unless you get multiple windows open. Also included is the Wacom digitizer which is still superior.  With a large IPS  display, and a USB port it will function well with a mouse. You can also split the screen with HIP on one side...and notes on the other.

The Bad: i) The gloss screen can get reflective and annoying if you have bright lights over head.  Yes...you do have the same issue with an IPad, however, IPad's have the ability to minimize reflection while in the "on" mode. Mac's high quality materials and deep black background's even in the "off" mode help assist in almost absorbing reflection. Next time you're in Best Buy....turn off a Mac Book Air and look into the sceen....and then turn off this unit and look in the screen. Reduced reflection off reduces reflection while on.

ii) This unit has a resolution of 1366 x 768. In many ways that's great. But on a 11.6" Display, font's start getting small...and let's face it, most of us are at least 40 (according to national statistic's in my last CE class...), and this starts causing eye strain for me. DISCLAIMER (other than an Iphone, I'm not a Mac user...but I appreciate their technology). That creates a DPI (Dot's Per Inch) of 135. A Mac Pro has 113 DPI.  Most laptops are between 100 and 115 DPI. What does this mean?  Just know the higher DPI means smaller fonts (Yes...you can change Windows PDI setting...but that has other negative effects).

RESULTS: Actually...I like this tablet. My 19 year old son likes it too...and teenagers are the best judge on today's technology.  There are other Pro's and Con's.  Like the plastic feeling back, bloatware, and cheap Wacom pen included.  I personal have a my own high quality Wacom pen which works great....and the erase also works! If you go with this...do yourself a favor and order a decent Wacom pen from Amazon. In the end I returned this unit....the deal breaker being the small font size coupled with the glossy screen,  lack of a keyboard, Windows 8 short comings, and "personal" feelings of missing functions that even XP Tablet had in handwriting technology.

This may be a good Tablet for you, especially if you are fine with the native font size. Just decided if any of these short coming are going to currently hurt you,... or will this unit help you in the field.

Thanks Dan, that was an excellent review. Have you decided what you're going to try next?